A fleet of Chinese warships is sailing from the southern Hainan Province to take part in military exercises with the Russian navy in St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad.
The fleet consists of one destroyer, one frigate, one comprehensive supply ship, ship-borne helicopters and marines.
The drills are part of an annual program to consolidate and advance the Sino-Russian comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, and deepen friendly and practical cooperation between the two nations.
(File) Navies from China and Russia ahead of the Joint Sea-2014 drill in Shanghai on May 19, 2014. /VCG Photo
Code-named the "Joint Sea 2017" drill, it will also improve coordination between the two navies on joint defense operations at sea.
The two navies are scheduled to hold military drills in waters of the Baltic Sea in late July and then the Sea of Japan and Okhotsk in the middle of September.
This year's drills aim to jointly carry out rescue missions and protect the safety of economic activities at sea.
